Method and apparatus for packaging, shipping and supplying wire



March 26, 1963 E. J. HUBBARD 3,082,868

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PACKAGING, SHIPPING AND SUPPLYING WIRE Filed Nov. 7, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 be 222- Eber J Hubbard @AIQHZZ March 26, 1963 I E. J. HUBBARD METHOD AND AP Filed Nov. '7, 195a PARATUS FOR PACKAGING, SHIPPING AND SUPPLYING WIRE I Sheets-Sheet 2 22' pa 730A I III: I flllllllfflllllll f 5621 cf. Hubbard ,4 H27 5 United States Patent 3,082,868 METHGD AND APRARATUS FUR PACKAGING, SHIPPING AND SUEFLYING WEE Eber J. Hubbard, Fort Wayne, Ind, assignor to Van Norman Industries, Inc, a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Nov. '7, 1958, Ser. No. 772,524 2 Claims. (Cl. 206-52) The present invention relates to a method of wire packaging and a container construction and is particularly concerned with the provision of an improved and simplified container for the shipment and storage of wire or the like, and a method of employing such container, with other apparatus, to provide an improved method, for packaging, shipping and supplying wire. The invention comprises a continuation-in-part of the subject matter of my presently copending application Serial No. 624,127, filed November 23, 1956, entitled Container for Wire, now Patent No. 2, 889,921, issued June 9, 1959.

As those familiar with the field of wire storage and shipping are aware, the practice of the industry has been, until recently, to provide spools for the shipment of wire. The wire, cable, or the like, was then tightly wound on the spools at the place of wire manufacture and the wound spools were shipped in box-like containers or, if the spools were of a large size, separately as individual units. However, for many reasons it has recently been considered desirable to provide a generally cylindrical container in which wire is coiled loosely from an open end. The present invention comprises an improved loose coil container of this type and incorporates an improved construction and method.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention an improved container is provided in which only four container parts are provided and wherein these parts interact to provide an extremely rigid container capable of withstanding the stresses imposed by shipping and, further, adapted to provide a novel first-in-first-out wire packaging, shipping and use technique. The simplified shipping container is constructed of inexpensive materials suitable for mass production techniques such that the container may be discarded after its use, if desired, rather than being constructed of expensive materials such as the devices of the prior art where re-use was necessary to provide economic operation.

In accordance with the present invention, and as more fully set forth below, the container constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention comprises a pair of concentrically positioned cylindrical wall members forming inner and outer container walls, and a pair of end caps or covers of annular configuration having upstanding circular flanges for co-operation with the inner and outer cylindrical members. In operation, the container is initially assembled with the inner and outer cylindrical tubular members positioned in assembled relation relative to one end cap, leaving the other end of the container open and facing in the vertical direction. Wire or the like is then loosely coiled in the container on the end cap until it approaches the top of the container at which time, and shortly before the container is full, the wire is cut, and the wire being packaged, which ordinarily is flowing from a continuously running wire mill, is directed to another similar container to provide continuous wire manufacture and packaging. For reasons more fully set forth below, a length of wire having the same electrical properties but a different surface color is welded to the end of the loosely coiled wire and is coiled into the open end of the container on top of the previously coiled wire. At this point, the other end cap is attached to the cylindrical wall members and the container is ready for shipment.

3,082,868 Patented Mar. 26, 1963 ice.

When the container arrives at its destination and is to be used, the end of the container first assembled to the cylindrical wall members is removed and the wire first coiled into the container is removed first. This is readily achieved since the wire is not wound on a spool as in previous methods. As a result of this construction and method, the different colored wire placed in the container last is employed as a tell-tale and employees using the wire are Warned of its impending depletion a predetermined length of wire in advance of such depletion. This permits the utilization of the wire in coil winding operations or the like without causing waste which so often occurs where coils are being wound and the supply of wire from the spool or other shipping container runs out in the middle of a coil.

If it is desired that the container be continually re-used, the end caps of the container may be constructed identically and the cylindrical wall members may likewise be the same at both ends, and removable fastening means may be employed for securing the end caps to the cylindrical walls. With this arrangement for each use only one 1 end cap need be removed and, obviously, for successive uses of the container successive end caps will be removed and successive ends of the container will be the end into which the wire is initially introduced.

In further accordance with the present invention improved means for grasping the container are provided either as an integral part of the container components above mentioned or as separate elements. In the latter case, where separate handle elements are provided, they are preferably provided in the outer cylindrical member and approximately midway between the ends thereof to permit utilization of the handles when either end of the container is in the upper position.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide an easily assembled shipping container for wire or the like comprising a minimum number of simple par-ts adapted for first-in-first-out wire packaging and dissemination.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a container having a maximum rigidity with a minimum number of structural components.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an improved coil shipping container and method of utilization thereof.

Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a novel method of first-in-first-out wire utilization employing a convenient tell-tale automatically informing the user of the wire of the approaching end of the wire in the container.

A feature of the invention is the provision of simple handling means integrally formed in the container elements permitting simple manipulation of the container and simultaneously preventing the wire in the container from slipping off the side or cylindrical member too rapidly during unloading of the container.

Still other and further objects and features of the present invention will at once become apparent to those persons skilled in the art from a consideration of the attached drawings wherein several preferred embodiments of the instant invention are shown by way of illustration only, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the loading of a container with wire in accordance with the method of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side-elevational view of a completely filled container of wire constructed and filled in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of a container constructed and used in accordance with the principles of the present invention in the process of being unloaded;

FIGURE 4 is a sideelevational view in partial cross section illustrating a form of the container of the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the container illustrated in FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional side-elevational view of a modified form the container illustrated in FIG- URE 4,

As shown on the drawings:

As shown in FIGURE 1, a container constructed in accordance with the present invention is mounted without its upper end cap in place on a table It) rotatably carried by a shaft 11. The container comprises an inner cylindrical member 12 and an outer cylindrical member 13 secured together by means of a bottom closure member 14 having upturned annular flange members 14a and 14b for snug engagement with the cylindrical members 13 and 12 respectively. In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1 the flanges 14a and 1412 are preferably glued to the cylindrical members but, as will be discussed below, various attachment means may be employed within the scope of the present invention.

The container in the open condition as shown, is rotated beneath a wire supplying nozzle 15 which is fixedly positioned above the table and directs wire from any conventional Wire finishing or enameling machine into a loose coil 16 in the container. By rotating the table 10 the coil is smoothly laid down in the container; and the Wire, indicated at 17, is laid down without twist.

After the container has become substantially completely filled with wire 17, and room for only a nominal amount of additional wire remains, the wire 17 is cut as it passes from the nozzle and the nozzle is immediately placed over a second rotating container. The cut end of the wire 17 at the top of the container just substantially filled is then attached by welding, brazing or other method non-destructive of the electrical properties thereof, to a predetermined designated length of wire identical thereto except as to color. For example, the different colored wire may be 100 ft. in length, red in color, and loosely coiled in the top of the container. The top cover 18 which is identical to the other end cover 14 is then placed over the upper ends of the cylindrical wall members 12 and 13 and secured thereto in the same' manner as cover 14. This arrangement is shown in FIG- URE 2 where the red, or different colored, portion of the wire is indicated at 17a.

After the container has arrived at its destination and the wire therein is to be utilized, it is inverted and placed upon a table 20, rotatable about shaft 21, with the cover 18 positioned at the bottom. The cover 14 is then removed and the wire 17 uncoiled manually or by automatic apparatus, whichever is desired. It will be obvious that as the wire 17 is widthdrawn and the red tell-tale is reached during utilization of the wire, the operator using the wire will immediately know that the designated footage .of wire remains in the container. Accordingly, if a coil or the like is being wound requiring more than such designated footage for its completion, the Winding of the coil will not be undertaken. Of course, it will also be apparent that in'situations where only small amounts of wire are employed at a time, the reaching of the tell-tale may be utilized as an inventory control to indicate the time for re-ordering.

if, subsequent to theutilization of all of the wire in the container, it is desired that the container be re-used, the cover 18 maybe loosely reapplied to the container. The container is then shipped back to the source and refilled, this time with the cover 14 being the top cover during the filling operation and the cover 18 being the cover removed in the subsequent emptying of the container. In the process of loading the container, it is contemplated that the cover placed on the container after loading be marked with suitable indicia so that the opposite end cover will be removed'during emptying of the container. Upon re-use, such indicia would be obliterated and a similar label placed upon the other end cover, the cover mark alternating with each use of the container.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 1, 2 and 3, the container is provided with handles 25 pivotally mounted on plates 26 which are stapled to the outer cylindrical wall member 13. Preferably, the handle plates 26 are secured approximately midway between the ends of the container so that they may be utilized equally as well no matter which end of the container is being loaded or is to be unloaded.

Where it is desired that the container be a disposable item, it is preferred that both the cylindrical wall members 12 and 13 be constructed of hard paperboard, cardboard or the like and, similarly, that the end covers be constructed of such material or of lightweight sheet metal. These materials are entirely suitable for the container of the present type since they have substantial rigidity and the loading and unloading of loosely coiled wire does not place compressive strains on the member 12 or the covers 14 and 13 as would be the case where a coiled spool is utilized.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG URES 4 and 5, the outer cylindrical member 13 and the end caps 14 and 18are identical to those above described relative to FIGURES l, 2 and 3. As illustrated, they are stapled by means of staples'27 to the cylindrical members 13 and 12a. The inner cylindrical member 12:: is modified, however, to provide a radially outwardly deflected annular portion 28. This portion serves the function of providing a hand hold at the end of the container and also serves the functional purpose of holding the body of wire in the container during withdrawal of the wire. In operation, in a disposable type container not intended for re-use, the annular portion 28 is placed at the bottom of the container during loading, with the result that during withdrawal of the wire it is positioned at the top and its outward bulge prevents the entire core of wire from sliding up and oii the cylindrical Wall member 12a.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG- URE 6, the container is preferably constructed of sheet metal and is arranged to provide snap-type closures providing integrated handling grooves. As there shown, the inner cylindrical wall member 12b is provided with radially outwardly deformed annular projections 28 at both ends thereof. Similarly, the outer cylindrical wall member 1311 is provided with radially inwardly deformed projections 29 at both ends thereof. The cap members 30 and 31 are identical and are each provided with upstanding flanges 30a, 30b, and 31a, 31b respectively. Complementary annular projecting members 32, 33, 34

and 35 are provided in the flanges for co-operation, in

the manner illustrated, with the annular grooves on the rear surfaces of the annular projections 28 and 29. As a result of this arrangement the end covers 30 and 31 may be snapped into position over the wall members 12b and 13b to provide a very satisfactory container. Further, the projections 28 and 29 provide restraining means preventing the wire from becoming uncoiled en masse, as above discussed. At-the same time,.the annular depressions provide very suitable gripping means for manually handling the containers. Thus, where 'a container such as shown in FIGURE 6. is employed, no external separate handle means are ordinarily considered necessary.

It will thus be seen that I have provided an extremely simple shipping container for Wire or the like which comprises only four basic parts, two of which are preferably identical in construction, As a result of the provision or this simple double-ended container, an improved wire packaging, shipping and using technique may be employed which substantially eliminates Waste heretofore, encountered in the industry. As a result of the simple interlocking action between the end caps or closures and the cylindrical wall members, an extremely rigid container is provided in the assembled stage even though relatively inexpensive cardboard or other fiberboard materials are utilized in construction of the container. By employing removable fastening means such as the staples .27 for securing the end caps to the cylindrical Wall members, the container may readily be opened by removal of the staples and may be re-used if desired to provide an extremely simple and inexpensive container. It will, of course, be obvious to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications may be made in the structure and method herein disclosed without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention. Accordingly, it is my intention that the scope of the present invention be limited solely by that of the hereinafter appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. The improvement in the process of conveying wire from processing apparatus to utilization apparatus com prising: providing a cylindrical container having a bottom end cap and an open upper end, placing on said bottom end cap one end of a strand of wire continuously fed from said processing apparatus and loosely coiling said strand into said container through said open upper end upwardly from said bottom end cap toward said open upper end, severing said strand to provide a finishing end for the coil of Wire in said container, securing a distinguishing tell-tale strand to said finishing end and loosely coiling the same into said container through said open upper end upwardly from said coil of wire toward said open upper end, securing a top end cap to said open upper end of said container, inverting said container, removing said bottom end cap from said container thereby to expose an open opposite end thereof, and supplying said strand to said utilization apparatus by withdrawing the same through said open opposite end of said container by means of said one end of said strand.

2. The improvement in the process of conveying wire from processing apparatus to utilization apparatus com prising: providing a cylindrical container having a bottom end cap and an open upper end, placing on said bottom end cap one end of a strand of wire continuously fed from said processing apparatus and loosely coiling said strand into said container through said open upper end upwardly from said bottom end cap toward said open upper end, severing said strand to provide a finishing end for the coil of wire in said container, securing a top end cap to said open upper end of said container, inverting said container, removing said bottom end cap from said container thereby to expose an open opposite end thereof, and supplying said strand to said utilization apparatus by Withdrawing the same through said open opposite end of said container by means of said one end of said strand.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 374,466 Fitzsimmons Dec. 6, 1887 790,689 Judkins May 23, 1905 799,538 Conover Sept. 12, 1905 1,442,594 Allen Jan. 16, 1923 1,995,498 Dempsey et al Mar. 26, 1935 2,721,041 Nerwin Oct. 18, 1955 2,784,895 Linwood et a1 Mar. 12, 1957 2,857,116 Kraift et al. Oct. 21, 1958 2,869,719 Hubbard Jan. 20, 1959 2,889,921 Hubbard June 9, 1959 

1. THE IMPROVEMENT IN THE PROCESS OF CONVEYING WIRE FROM PROCESSING APPARATUS TO UTILIZATION APPARATUS COMPRISING: PROVIDING A CYLINDRICAL CONTAINER HAVING A BOTTOM END CAP AND AN OPEN UPPER END, PLACING ON SAID BOTTOM END CAP ONE END OF A STRAND OF WIRE CONTINUOUSLY FED FROM SAID PROCESSING APPARATUS AND LOOSELY COILING SAID STRAND INTO SAID CONTAINER THROUGH SAID OPEN UPPER END UPWARDLY FROM SAID BOTTOM END CAP TOWARD SAID OPEN UPPER END, SEVERING SAID STRAND TO PROVIDE A FINISHING END FOR THE COIL OF WIRE IN SAID CONTAINER, SECURING A DISTINGUISHING TELL-TALE STRAND TO SAID FINISHING END AND LOOSELY COILING THE SAME INTO SAID CONTAINER THROUGH SAID OPEN UPPER END UPWARDLY FROM SAID COIL OF WIRE TOWARD SAID OPEN UPPER END, SECURING A TOP END CAP TO SAID OPEN UPPER END OF SAID CONTAINER, INVERTING SAID CONTAINER, REMOVING SAID BOTTOM END CAP FROM SAID CONTAINER THEREBY TO EXPOSE AN OPEN OPPOSITE END THEREOF, AND SUPPLYING SAID STRAND TO SAID UTILIZATION APPARATUS BY WITHDRAWING THE SAME THROUGH SAID OPEN OPPOSITE END OF SAID CONTAINER BY MEANS OF SAID ONE END OF SAID STRAND. 